UK digital switchover will cost £55m less than expected

Digital television switchover in the UK is to cost £55m less than previously
predicted, according to the body responsible for its implementation.

By Neil Midgley

6:00AM BST 16 Jun 2010

The figures, released by Digital UK chief executive David Scott, will lead to fierce lobbying for reallocation of the funds. The rollout of high-speed broadband to remote areas, and the construction of new radio transmitters to pave the way for digital radio switchover in 2015 are the most likely candidates to receive increased funding.

Television sets will have to switch to digital in 2015.

Digital UK had a £201m budget for its marketing effort to persuade people to switch to digital TV. It is due to last until the final analogue TV signal is switched off in 2012.

However, Mr Scott now estimates only £146m of that will be required. Experience in the first areas to switch showed that a six-month campaign, rather than the two years envisaged, is enough to make almost all consumers switch.

Mr Scott has recommended at least £26m of the predicted savings could be released now for other purposes.

Ford Ennals, the chief executive of Digital Radio UK, said: "We support the use of underspends on all aspects of the digital TV switchover as being a valid source of funds for the build out of BBC coverage of digital radio services."

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A spokesman for BT said: "We welcome any funds available to help the roll-out of fibre broadband to the final third of the UK. How these funds are raised is a matter for the Government."

The funding for digital TV switchover is provided from the licence fee, and the destination for the underspend will be a matter for discussion between the BBC Trust and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, although a Government spokesman said supporting broadband could be a priority to excess funds